By Yiming Fu, Report for America corps member
Lahaina residents wanting Hawaiian Electric to rebuild their electric lines underground will have to wait, company officials said.
West Maui community liason Mikey Burke said HECO is listening to residents who want underground utilities and other fire-proofing improvements. That process would take longer and slow down the rebuild. But it’s still in the conversation for Maui’s long-term planning, Burke said.
“We are committed, because we have heard you from day one, about your desire to underground electrical lines. We are committed to continue that conversation with our community, with our federal, our state and our local agencies on how we bring that vision to life for the Lahaina community. It’s just going to take some time. Bear with us, give us grace, we will work on it.”
This Wednesday, HECO presented at the County of Maui’s Wednesday recovery meeting where Mayor Richard Bissen, West Maui councilmember Tamara Paltin and local recovery-related organizations give updates. The meetings switch from weekly to monthly in 2025. Also new this year — organizations like HECO, the water department, and Maui Emergency Management Agency will have tables where residents can get one-on-one help.
Lahaina’s fires were sparked by a downed electricity pole that ignited unkempt grasses, according to the national Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives report. The wildfires are the deadliest in the United States in the last century, killing more than 102 people, displacing 12,000 people and destroying 3,000 buildings. HECO is part of a proposed $4 billion settlement to compensate fire survivors.
HECO’s presentation Wednesday discussed restoring electricity to homes, reinstalling streetlights in the burn zone and planning for Lahaina’s long term energy future.
Safety for customers and the workforce is HECO’s top priority, Burke said. The company is putting in new infrastructure regulated by the National Electrical Safety Code, including electricity poles that can withstand high wind gusts. Other ongoing wildfire protection methods include protective mesh on poles, weather stations and AI cameras to monitor weather conditions and a public safety power shutoff program.
Because old electrical poles can present a fire hazard, many Lahaina residents hope the utilities can be moved underground. Maui County has received some federal funding to underground utilities in high-risk areas, which they will begin work on shortly, Burke said. The money is not enough to underground all utilities, so the county will also continue to seek necessary funding. According to Burke, process is costly and time consuming.
Earlier this year, HECO said it usually costs between $500,000 to $1 million per mile to erect power lines overhead. It costs about five to 10 times more to put them underground.
Residents who are interested in the long-term future of Lahaina’s energy usage can check out Lahaina energy partnership workshops, which will inform HECO. They can also look at the Long-Term Recovery Plan, which will inform Lahaina’s growth.
At the meeting, HECO also discussed restoring streetlights and re-electrifying properties. Residents can submit streetlight requests on the county’s website. Maui County prioritizes Lahaina requests and it is estimated to take 6 to 8 weeks to reinstall a street light.
To re-electrify properties, customers can submit requests on HECO’s website. A planner will visit the property to determine a timeline within 2-4 weeks of the request. Requests can be submitted to power temporary dwellings, temporary construction or permanent service.
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